ee THE MOSS-ANIMALS, 
as their marine relatives, the Gymnolemata, or Polyzoa 
with unguarded throats. Notwithstanding their harsh 
scientific name, the Phylactolemata are light, elegant, — 
mossy growths, and, when placed under a low power — 
of the microscope, are even more beautiful than the 
flowers they resemble. 
Their plant-like aspect, however, is a mere semblance, 
notwithstanding the branching mode of growth. If we q 
examine any one specimen of the genus Fredericella, we 
speedily learn that the trunk is not a single, straight, 
solid stem, as in the plants, but made up of a series of 
minute, dark brown, tubular cells, arranged in a line, 
with the main branches and shorter twigs, also con- 
structed of cells, arranged in a similar manner. Each 
cell (fig. 4) is a single animal, and contains the organs 
and muscles of one being, though so intimately attached 
to others, and so merged in the general life of the com- 
munity, that it cannot, strictly speaking, be called an- 
individual. An individual is but one animal, freely 
following the bent of its own will, and containing within 
itself an isolated, independent system of organs. : 
The lower portion of every cell is str ipit, being the 
continuation of the axis of the trunk, or branch of which i 
is a part; but the upper portion turns out of the direct 
line with an elbow-like bend, elevating one end above the 
stem. This end is free, and is surmounted by a trans- 
_ parent tube, which is closed by around disc, perforated | 
le á the mouth, and bearing a crown of translucent, slender 
_ threads, called tentacles, which gracefully curve upwards: 
ome of a ve t e 4, fo The wr flap : 
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TETARA 
osition, as if it were hinged 
ae carious (th 
